“Mysterious granite tablets etched with rules for an "Age of Reason"”

In heart of Elbert County, Georgia sits a conspiracy theorists wet dream: a massive monument of unknown origins that sports of cryptic stones with rules for a post-apocalyptic America. It's been labeled as a source for many religious groups- from a survival handbook from the New World Order, to doctrinal guide for a secret society of Satanists. The structure, hewn entirely out of granite, has no traceable ownership, but instead belongs to the county. The inscriptions of the stone are readable in eight languages- English, Spanish, Swahili, Hindi, Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese and Russian.

The full text of the ten "guidelines" inscribed upon the granite tablets are as follows:

1. Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.

6. Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.

7. Avoid petty laws and useless officials.

8. Balance personal rights with social duties.

9. Prize truth — beauty — love — seeking harmony with the infinite.

10. Be not a cancer on the earth — Leave room for nature — Leave room for nature.

Beautiful? Yes. Spooky? Absolutely.

Sometimes referred to as "America's Stonehenge", the Georgia Guidestones is a granite monument in Elbert County, Georgia, USA. A message clearly conveying a set of ten guidelines is inscribed on the structure in eight modern languages, and a shorter message is inscribed at the top of the structure in four ancient languages' scripts: Babylonian, Classical Greek, Sanskrit and Egyptian hieroglyphs.

General consensus has long held that the slabs were erected in order to help guide what's left of humanity in the aftermath of an apocalyptic event.

The mysterious stones have been the subject of many conspiracy theories since their unveiling, as the shadowy figure behind the strange monument has never come forward with an explanation for their creation, and has yet to be publicly named.

All that is known about the financiers of the project is an inscription on the ground that reads, "a small group of Americans who seek the Age of Reason."

The full text of the ten "guidelines" inscribed upon the granite tablets are as follows:

1. Maintain humanity under 500,000,000 in perpetual balance with nature.

6. Let all nations rule internally resolving external disputes in a world court.

7. Avoid petty laws and useless officials.

8. Balance personal rights with social duties.

9. Prize truth — beauty — love — seeking harmony with the infinite.

10. Be not a cancer on the earth — Leave room for nature — Leave room for nature.

The four outer stones are oriented to mark the limits of the 18.6 year lunar declination cycle. The center column features a hole through which the North Star can be seen regardless of time, as well as a slot that is aligned with the Sun's solstices and equinoxes. A 7/8" aperture in the capstone allows a ray of sun to pass through at noon each day, shining a beam on the center stone indicating the day of the year.

A few feet to the west of the monument, an additional granite ledger has been set level with the ground. This tablet identifies the structure and the languages used on it, lists various facts about the size, weight and astronomical features of the stones, the date it was installed and the sponsors of the project. It also speaks of a time capsule buried under the tablet, but the fields on the stone reserved for filling in the dates on which the capsule was buried and is to be opened are missing, so it is not clear whether the time capsule was ever put in place. Each side of the tablet is perpendicular to one of the cardinal directions, and is inscribed so that the northern edge is the top of the inscription.

Let me be frank, first. The Georgia Guidestones are a roadside attraction, not a destination in and of themselves. Since they are a far drive from Atlanta, I’d recommend stopping to see them on your way to Watson Mill Bridge State Park or Richard B Russell State Park. Both are wonderful (and not too far from each other.) But once you are out that way, you MUST make Georgia Guidestones a priority!

Typically called a cross between Stonehenge and the Rosetta Stone, no one knows the exact purpose of these granite masterpieces. They are a little freaky, and a lot weird. But there is no denying their artistic prowess.

It's off the beaten path, but worth it. Very mysterious. The drive from the interstate was beautiful--lakes and farmland. The nearby town of Elberton is the Granite Capital of the World. A very interesting side trip.

My friend took me here to see the Guidestones about 6 months ago. I was in awe. They look like the work of other beings or something. haha. The inscriptions are so precise and symmetrical. Not to mention the holes for the North Star and the Solstice and all. It's amazing. I'd recommend anyone and everyone see the Guidestones at least once. It's quite a site to see.

Very weird place that emanates very weird vibes. No one is totally sure who built the guidestones (people seem to think it might have been Ted Turner, or, you know... the illuminati), but they're pretty impressive when you see them in person. Kind of a bummer to see how people have vandalized them though.

They're a bit off the highway, but totally worth checking out if you're into mysteries and conspiracies.